Systems and methods for delivering merchandise items using a conveyor apparatus

• US 10,087,002 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2017
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Shields, David C., Shields, Daniel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Randazzo, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US15/468,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20170291767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1373 for fulfilling orders in warehouses
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1376 the orders being assembled on a commissioning conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/00 Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to delivering merchandise items using a conveyor apparatus. Some of these embodiments include systems for delivering merchandise items comprising: a conveyor apparatus having unique conveyor locations for deposit of a merchandise item, the conveyor apparatus extending between a first controlled access point and a second, different controlled access point; a first input interface configured to enter identifying information regarding the merchandise item and to associate it with a corresponding unique conveyor location in the conveyor apparatus where the merchandise item is deposited; a second input interface configured to enter customer identification information; and a controller configured to receive information from the first input interface and the second input interface and to activate the conveyor apparatus to move the corresponding unique location of the merchandise item to the second controlled access point.

Claims

1. A system for delivering a merchandise item between an order filling station and a cashier station at a shopping facility, the system comprising:

an order filling station and a cashier station located in separate physical areas of a shopping facility;

a first controlled access point at the order filling station;

a second controlled access point at the cashier station;

a conveyor apparatus extending along a carousel track defining a circuitous route between the first controlled access point at the order filling station and the second controlled access point at the cashier station and having a plurality of uniquely identified conveyor locations for deposit of a merchandise item, the conveyor apparatus extending, at least in part, between the first controlled access point and the second controlled access point;

a first input interface at the order filling station configured to enter identifying information regarding the merchandise item and to associate the merchandise item with a corresponding uniquely identified conveyor location in the conveyor apparatus where the merchandise item is deposited;

a second input interface at the cashier station configured to enter customer identification information;

a controller configured to receive information from the first input interface and the second input interface and to activate the conveyor apparatus to move the corresponding uniquely identified location of the merchandise item to the second controlled access point;

wherein the first controlled access point is accessible for depositing the merchandise item in a uniquely identified conveyor location and the second controlled access point is accessible for removing the merchandise item from the uniquely identified conveyor location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor apparatus comprises:

a plurality of containers for receiving merchandise items and for removably mounting to the uniquely identified conveyor locations along the carousel track.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the carousel track includes a support mount at each uniquely identified conveyor location along the carousel track for hanging each container.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second input interfaces comprise one or more of a barcode scanner, a keyboard interface, and a sensor disposed at a uniquely identified conveyor location.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to compare the information from the first input interface and the second input interface and to activate the conveyor apparatus when the identifying information regarding the merchandise item corresponds to the customer information.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor apparatus includes a locking mechanism at each uniquely identified conveyor location for locking the merchandise item to the conveyor apparatus.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an actuator proximate the second controlled access point for release of the merchandise item from the conveyor apparatus.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the conveyor apparatus includes a visual indicator at each uniquely identified conveyor location; and

the controller is configured to activate the visual indicator corresponding to the location of the merchandise item.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a self-serve customer pick-up station at a location physically separate from the order filling station and the cashier station; and

a third controlled access point at the self-serve customer pick-up station;

wherein the circuitous route of the conveyor apparatus extends from the first and second controlled access points to the third controlled access point at the self-serve customer pick-up station, the third controlled access point being accessible for removal of the merchandise item from a uniquely identified conveyor location.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a station for maintenance of the conveyor apparatus, the maintenance station being physically separate from the order filling station and the cashier station; and

a fourth controlled access point at the maintenance station;

wherein the circuitous route of the conveyor apparatus extends from the first and second controlled access points to the fourth controlled access point at the maintenance station, the fourth controlled access point being accessible for maintenance of the conveyor apparatus.

11. A method for delivering a merchandise item between an order filling station and a cashier station at a shopping facility, the method comprising:

providing an order filling station and a cashier station located in separate physical areas of a shopping facility;

providing a first controlled access point at the order filling station;

providing a second controlled access point at the cashier station;

providing a conveyor apparatus extending along a carousel track defining a circuitous route between the order filling station and the cashier station and having a plurality of uniquely identified conveyor locations for deposit of a merchandise item, the conveyor apparatus extending, at least in part, between the first controlled access point at the order filling station and the second controlled access point at the cashier station;

depositing a merchandise item in a uniquely identified location in a conveyor apparatus at the first controlled access point;

inputting first information identifying the merchandise item and its associated, corresponding uniquely identified location in the conveyor apparatus into a database;

receiving second information identifying a customer and determining if the database contains corresponding identification information of the merchandise item; and

if there is a match, activating, by a controller, the conveyor apparatus to move the associated uniquely identified conveyor location corresponding to the merchandise identification information to the second controlled access point.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the depositing of the merchandise item in a uniquely identified location in a conveyor apparatus comprises placing the merchandise item in one of a plurality of containers removably mounted to the carousel track extending between the first and second controlled access points.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the inputting of information comprises one or more of scanning a barcode, using a keyboard, or inputting by sensor.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising comparing the first and second information and activating the conveyor apparatus when the identifying information regarding the merchandise item corresponds to the customer information.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising locking the merchandise item to the conveyor apparatus proximate the first controlled access point and releasing the merchandise item proximate the second controlled access point.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising activating a visual indicator corresponding to the uniquely identified location of the merchandise item.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a self-serve customer pick-up station at a location physically separate from the order filling station and the cashier station; and

providing a third controlled access point at the self-serve customer pick-up station;

wherein the carousel track extends from the first and second controlled access points to the third controlled access point at the self-serve customer pick-up station, the third controlled access point being accessible for removal of the merchandise item from the uniquely identified conveyor location.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein depositing a merchandise item in a uniquely identified location further comprises depositing the merchandise item in the next available uniquely identified conveyor location of a plurality of locations arranged in a queue along the conveyor apparatus.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising identifying the merchandise item for removal from the conveyor apparatus based on a predetermined condition of the merchandise item.

20. A system for delivering a prescription from a pharmacy station to a cashier station at a shopping facility, the system comprising:

a pharmacy station and a cashier station located in separate physical areas of a shopping facility;

a first controlled access point at the pharmacy station;

a second controlled access point at the cashier station;

a conveyor apparatus extending along a carousel track defining a circuitous route through a secure area between the pharmacy station and the cashier station and having a plurality of uniquely identified conveyor locations for deposit of a prescription, the conveyor apparatus extending, at least in part, between the first controlled access point at the pharmacy station and the second controlled access point at the cashier station;

a first input interface proximate the first controlled access point configured to enter identifying information regarding the prescription and to associate it with a corresponding uniquely identified location in the conveyor apparatus where the prescription is deposited;

a second input interface proximate the second controlled access point configured to enter customer identification information;

a controller configured to receive information from the first input interface and the second input interface and to activate the conveyor apparatus to move the corresponding uniquely identified conveyor location of the prescription to the second controlled access point;

wherein the conveyor apparatus is accessible at the first controlled access point for depositing the prescription in a uniquely identified conveyor location and the conveyor apparatus is accessible at the second controlled access point for removing the prescription from the uniquely identified conveyor location.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the conveyor apparatus comprises:

a plurality of removable containers for receiving merchandise items and for hanging at the uniquely identified conveyor locations along the carousel track.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

a self-serve customer pick-up station at a location physically separate from the pharmacy station and the cashier station; and

a third controlled access point at the self-serve customer pick-up station;

wherein the circuitous route of the conveyor apparatus extends from the first controlled access point to the second controlled access point to the third controlled access point for controlled retrieval by a customer.